Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Wednesday 19 Sept - Manali Trek Day 10

We climb up the side of the valley, over the ridge, and down to Billing - famous in India for it's Hang Gliding and Paragliding.





The valley below Billing is clouded in, so we only get the occasional glimpse down towards Bir over 1000 metres below.





Santosh is waiting with the jeep to take us through to Dharamsala - complete with our bikes on the roof rack.





We've had a fantastic ten days, and made some friendships with some great people.





Dorje and his crew showed us what must be one of the nicest and most scenic parts of India.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Tuesday 18 Sept - Manali Trek Day 9

Last night a bear killed a goat on the other side of the river.



Explains why the Shepherd's dogs were barking all night.


All that was left was the goat's ead and front legs.



We head down the valley through dense forest to our camp beside the village of Rajgunda.



By 4m more thunder and rain. Spectacular CB cloud developement.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Monday 17 Sept - Manali Trek Day 8








8:30am start at 3484m.




We're heading over Thamsar Pass (4700m) by 2:20pm.




It's a gradual climb over moraine boulders all the way to the top in perfect clear conditions.




As we cross the pass the valley we decend into is "fogged in" making route finding interesting.




One of the ponies slips on the ice and hurts itself. We follow large blood spots down the trail.




Spectacular sounding thunder echoes through the valleys all afternoon.




At times the valley floor is covered by snow bridges. Water crashing underneath.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Sunday 16 Sept - Manali Trek Day 7






Leaving Mario and Tajana behind to enjoy their rest day we climb to our base camp for Thamsar Pass